The Imo State government has advised former Governor of the state and senator representing Imo West at the Senate, Senator Rochas Okorocha, to show proof of ownership of his several properties on or before April 21, 2021, or such properties risks forfeiture.
This formed part of resolutions reached at the State Executive Council meeting, SEC, held at Government House, Owerri on Wednesday presided by Governor Hope Uzodimma.
The state government “reemphasized the early empowerment of the Ministry of Lands and Survey, Imo State to carry out the full implementation of recovery of all lands and property of Government based on the whitepaper report on violation of Owerri Master Plan”
A statement by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Oguwike Nwachukwu, quoted the State Commissioner of Information, Declan Emelumba, to have said that “Government has obtained court order permitting her to recover every property illegally acquired by former Governor of Imo State and Senator representing Imo West in the National Assembly, Senator Rochas Okorocha” and that Government has given Okorocha, till April 21, 2021 to come and show prove of ownership of the said property or it will be finally forfeited to the State Government.
The Commissioner however stated that owners of the Ekwema Crescent layout which was illegally allotted to people by the Okorocha administration without any law are fortunate as the Government did not revoke their land.
According to the statement, the Commissioner said that “Government has ordered that the land be returned to the original owners and that anything developed on such land belongs to the owners.”
He continued “Singling out the old IBC quarters at Orji in Owerri where the former Governor Rochas Okorocha built his Rochas Foundation College, Government emphasized that the property belongs to the Government and has been marked for full recovery.
Emelumba, according to the statement, said Council observed the distortion of the New Owerri Master Plan and noted that the current administration is poised to recover the area, warning that any structure on the original Master Plan will be demolished.
Furthermore, he said it was discovered by EXCO that the Government of Okorocha allotted the Imo State Government Layouts in Orlu to his family, friends and cronnies, pointing out that “the Government of Uzodimma will definitely recover that layout as part of those property illegally acquired.”
READ ALSO